capable

adjective

ˈkā-pə-bəl How to pronounce capable (audio)
Definition of capablenext
as in suitable
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance a capable and efficient editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of capable For starters, putting capable agents together doesn't necessarily produce the best team, let alone the most ethical one. — Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026 There is also the issue of the scarcity of capable translators, not to mention the fact that the market for Japanese literature during Inoue’s prime was small. — Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026 The Cybertruck’s successor, the Cybercab, hopes to compete with Google’s driverless Waymo project, though neither vehicle is capable of those fully autonomous road trips yet. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2026 As robots become more capable, companies will need workers who know how to operate and maintain them. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capable
  1. suitable
  2. qualified
  3. competent
  4. able
Adjective
  • According to a federal audit published in July, more than 9,000 children in foster care nationwide had to temporarily stay in hotels, office buildings and other settings when states couldn't find suitable places over an 18-month period.
    — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Trump should fire Hegseth and clean house at the Pentagon and find a suitable secretary of defense (not secretary of war, as the asinine Hegseth styles himself) who won’t be acting like a frat boy at the one of the most solemn sites in the nation.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • Olaolu Aganga, head of portfolio construction and analytics at Citi Wealth, said hedge funds have attracted the strongest recent interest among qualified clients, who are seeking returns less dependent on the direction of equity markets.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The $750 million ceiling will likely be reached this year, but that’s no guarantee there will be enough qualified productions to fill the gap to a billion.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of qualified
Adjective
  • The partnership’s goal is a nimble, creative and competent federal government that addresses the complex needs of the nation.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Palm Beach voters also wisely re-elected several competent state lawmakers and flipped two seats from Republican to Democrat.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of competent
Adjective
  • Neither was able to rally the support necessary to secure the position, which eventually went to Mike Johnson, who is stepping aside from the leadership in the new Congress.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Thanks to the leadership of Robinson, Edmonds and Harding, TCU was able to avoid a similar setback.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of able

Browse Nearby Words

capability
capable
capableness
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Cite this Entry

“Capable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capable. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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